Mighty 5 Virtual Field Trip for Kids: Utah’s National Parks

Do you want to learn about the Mighty 5 National Parks in Utah? Let’s go on a virtual adventure with this Mighty 5 Virtual Field Trip for Kids!

Explore with kid friendly videos and fun facts about Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches National Parks.

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Mighty 5 Virtual Field Trip for Kids

Did you know that there are five amazing national parks located in Utah?

Let’s go on a trip to Utah’s famous national parks, well a virtual trip.

I created for you this helpful video playlist of Utah’s Might Five National Parks! It’s a virtual field trip for kids (and adults too) of all five National Parks in Utah.

Are you ready to explore these geologic wonders?

Utah is home to five incredible National Parks, known as the Mighty Five. They include:

• Arches National Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Canyonlands National Park
• Capitol Reef National Park
• Zion National Park

Southern Utah’s national parks are admired for their dramatic rock formations. These parks contain some of the most thrilling hiking trails and iconic landscapes in the United States.

This Utah national parks road trip (referred to as the Mighty 5 road trip) is not only iconic but is often considered one of the most scenic drives in the entire world.

FUN FACT: Four of the five national parks are certified International “Dark Sky” Parks, which means that you can stargaze beneath the Milky Way. Take a peek at this nighy sky timelapse video.

Utah’s National Parks are all a part of the Colorado Plateau. In fact in the Colorado Plateau region, there are nine national parks: Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches, Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, and Chaco Culture National Historical Park.

You can learn more about these additional National Parks here in our Virtual Field Trips for Kids.

Arches National Park – Moab, UT

Arches National Park is one of the top national parks in America: it’s a 73,234-acre wonderland of eroded sandstone fins, towers, ribs, gargoyles, hoodoos, balanced rocks, and, of course, arches northwest of Moab.

Over millions of years the natural sandstone has been worn down by erosion, creating arches. There are more than 2,000 stunning rock arches in this arid desert environment.

Arches National Park Virtual Field Trips

• Arches National Park Vacation Travel Guide | Expedia
• Arches National Park | GoTraveler
• Park Rangers Shares How Arches Are Formed | GoTraveler
• Nature: Arches National Park | CBS Sunday Morning
• Arches National Park Complete Guide | Through My Lens
• Arches National Park Complete Scenic Drive 4K | AdventureEveryDay
• Our first time at Arches National Park! | Adventures of A+K
• Delicate Arch Trail, Hiking, Utah, USA, Travel, 4K | The Table
• Arches National Park, Utah, USA | Amazing Places on Our Planet
• Arches National Park Virtual Walk – Park Avenue Trail – 4k | City Walks
• Arches National Park Ranger Talk | finleyholiday
• Arches National Park | Moab, Utah 4K | TAPP Channel
• How Arches Formed? “Geology of Arches” | Geology Page
• How did all these arches form? | OutSCIder Classroom
• Hiking the Devil’s Garden Trail (with 8 arches!) | Adventures of A+K
• Arches National Park Virtual Tour | VR 360° | Odyssey Visual Media

Download and Print the Arches Junior Ranger Guide

• Arches National Park Services Website
• Arches National Park Maps and Guides
• Arches NPS Coloring Pages
• Arches National Park Youtube Channel
• Google Earth: Arches National Park
• Google Arts & Culture: Arches National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park – Bryce, UT

An alpine forest with as many red rock hoodoos as trees. At dawn and dusk, mule deer graze the forested plateau along the road into Bryce Canyon. Formed by erosion, the tall, colorful sandstone hoodoos rise like chimneys out of the rugged landscape consisting of 35,835 acres.

The iconic landmark is the beautiful views from the rim of Bryce’s amphitheater. You can hike along the rim trail to Sunset Point and descend into a maze of pink hoodoos, spires and rock windows.

Bryce Canyon National Park Virtual Field Trips

• Bryce Canyon National Park – Virtual Field Trip | NG Science
• Bryce Canyon National Park Travel Guide I Expedia
• Bryce Canyon National Park | GoTraveler
• Bryce Canyon Hike Guide | The Virtual sherpa
• Amazing Bryce Canyon Virtual Hike | 4K Relaxation Channel
• Nature: Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park | CBS Sunday Morning
• Bryce Canyon National Park Navajo Trail Virtual Hike | Treadmill TV
• One Day at Bryce Canyon National Park | Adventures of A+K
• Bryce Canyon Astronomy Programs | Bryce NPS
• Queens Garden + Navajo Loop, Fairyland Loop | Adventures of A+K
• The Magic of the Hoodoos | Bryce CanyonNPS
• Bryce Canyon Night Sky Ranger Talk | finleyholiday
• Bryce Canyon Virtual Tour | VR 360° | Odyssey Visual Media

Download and Print the Bryce Canyon Junior Ranger Guide

• Bryce NPS Youtube Channel
• Bryce Canyon National Park Service Website
• Bryce Canyon Park Map and Guide
• Google Earth: Bryce Canyon National Park
• Google Arts and Culture: Bryce Canyon National Park

Canyonlands National Park- Moab, UT

Canyonlands is home to many different types of travel experiences, from sublime solitude in the more remote stretches of the park to moderate hikes through the Needles district to the opportunity to create your own version of one of the West’s most photographed landforms, Mesa Arch.

The Colorado River and Green River, one of Utah’s Mighty Five, have helped to shape the distinctive canyons, buttes, and mesas. It has 4 districts over a span of 257,640 acres.

Canyonlands National Park Virtual Field Trips

• Canyonlands National Park | GoTraveler
• Canyonlands National Park – Terra Incognita | CanyonlandsNPS
• Canyonlands National Park | Island in the Sky Guide | Through My Lens
• One day at Canyonlands – Island in the Sky | Adventures of A+K
• Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA 4K | Amazing Places on Our Planet
• Top 8 Sights at Canyonlands National Park | Journey to All National Parks
• 6 Amazing Hikes in Gorgeous Capitol Reef | We’re in the Rockies
• Canyonlands – Island in the sky | PrimoMedia – Chris Biela
• Cataract Canyon – Canyonlands National Park | CanyonlandsNPS
• Needles 4WD Day Use | CanyonlandsNPS
• Canyonlands Virtual Tour | VR 360° | Odyssey Visual Media

Download and Print Canyonlands Junior Ranger Guide

• Canyonlands National Park Service Website
• Canyonlands National Park Maps and Guides
• Canyonlands National Park Youtube channel
• Google Earth: Canyonlands National Park
• Google Arts & Culture: Canyonlands National Park
• Island in the Sky Webcam | Canyonlands NPS

Capitol Reef National Park- Torrey, UT

Made up for 241,900 acres Capitol Reef National Park’s you can explore the expansiveness, of broad, sweeping vistas, of a tortured, twisted, seemingly endless landscape, or of limitless sky and desert rock.

This park follows a Waterpocket Fold—an incredible 100-mile wrinkle in the Earth’s surface. This geological feature is known as a monocline, which creates a dramatic step-like landscape of sheer cliffs and canyons that give Capitol Reef its angled look.

Capitol Reef National Park Virtual Field Trips

• Capitol Reef National Park for Kids! | National Park Kids!
• Capitol Reef National Park 3-minute Tour | finleyholiday
• Capitol Reef National Park | GoTraveler
• Cassidy Arch, Hickman Bridge & the Scenic Drive | Through My Lens
• 24 Hours at Capitol Reef National Park | Adventures of A+K
• Capitol Reef Trip Planner | We’re in the Rockies
• Cycling Tour through Capitol Reef National Park | World Nature Video
• Capitol Reef National Park | Utah’s Mighty 5 | America’s Parks
• Capitol Reef Scenic Drive 4K | AdventureEveryDay
• 14 Great Things to do in Utah’s Most Charming National Park! | We’re in the Rockies
• 4 Breathtaking Drives in Remote Capitol Reef | We’re in the Rockies

Download and Print Capitol Reef Junior Ranger Activity Guide

• Capitol Reef National Park Service Website
• Capitol Reef National Park Map and Guide
• Google Earth: Capitol Reef National Park
• Google Arts & Culture: Capitol Reef National Park

Zion National Park – Springdale, UT

Whether you are trying to catch your breath while climbing the trail to Angel’s Landing or watching the shadows constantly change the mood of the Court of the Patriarchs, Zion National Park is always ready to quench your appetite for outdoor wonder.

The Zion National park preserves 146,600 acres of epic red rock formations, 2,000-foot sandstone cliffs, and a labyrinth of naturally carved and brilliantly colored canyons.

Zion National Park Virtual Field Trips

• Arches National Park Vacation Travel Guide | Expedia
• Educational Videos of Zion National Park | Zion NPS
• Zion National Park Guide to History & Attractions | RAC Adventures
• Zion NP Utah Riverside Walk Trail | City Walks
• Zion National Park | GoTraveler
• Zion Canyon Scenic Drive Winter 4K | AdventureEveryDay
• Zion National Park 8K | More Than Just Parks
• Nature: Zion National Park in Utah | CBS Sunday Morning
• The Narrows – Virtual Hike in the Zion National Park | Relaxation Channel
• The Narrows | America’s Parks
• Zion National Park Trip Planner | We’re in the Rockies
• Zion National Park, Utah, USA | Amazing Places on Our Planet
• Angels Landing Trail | NationalParksTrails USA
• Angels Landing Hike – Ascent & Descent | Nikhil Shahi
• A Brief History of Zion National Park & It’s Must-See Sites | GoTraveler
• Zion-Mount Carmel Highway | We’re in the Rockies
• Belly of the Dragon | We’re in the Rockies
• Zion Human History Museum | Zion NPS
• Zion National Park Virtual Tour | VR 360° | Odyssey Visual Media
• Donated Artwork Produced by Zion’s many Artists-in-Residence | NPS

Download and Print Zion Junior Ranger Guide

• Zion National Park Service Website
• Zion National Park Youtube Channel
• Zion National Park Map and Guide
• Google Arts & Culture: Zion National Park
• Google Earth: Zion National Park
• Webcam Temples And Towers of the Virgin | Zion NPS

Dinosaur Tracks Near Utah’s Mighty 5 Parks

• Hunting for Dinosaur Tracks! | Brave Wilderness
• Exploring Dinosaur Tracks Kanab, UT | That Adventure Life
• Warner Valley Dinosaur Tracks | St George | Troutdoors

Native American History in Southern Utah

The modern-day tribes in Utah are Ute, Goshute, Paiute, Navajo (Dine), and Shoshone. Utah is home to approximately 60,000 Native Americans, representing more than 50 Tribal Nations, with eight being federally recognized. Many artifacts and archeological sites can been seen from this tribes in the Mighty 5 National parks exhibits and hikes.

Each tribe has its own unique heritage that can be found among the state’s many dwelling sites, petroglyph and pictograph panels, and museum exhibits.

Here’s a few videos that highlight these Native American collections.

• Virtual Field Trip of Native Voices | Natural History Museum of Utah
• Discover the vibrant languages of Utah’s tribes and how they’re connected
• WE SHALL REMAIN: A NATIVE HISTORY OF UTAH
• Ancient Native American Ruins in Utah with a Navajo Guide
• The Navajo Nation | The Story of America’s Largest Tribe
• Hidden Native American Sites in Zion NP
• Anasazi State Park Museum | Utah Division of State Parks
• Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum | Utah Division of State Parks
• Fremont Indian State Park and Museum | Utah Division of State Parks
• Petroglyph Versus Pictograph – Native American Rock Art in Southern Utah
• Newspaper Rock | Petroglyphs near Moab
• Ancestral Puebloans | Canyonlands NPS
• Horseshoe Canyon & The Holy Ghost Panel – Canyonlands National Park
• Bryce Canyon: American Indian Perspectives | Bryce Canyon NPS
• Zion National Park – We The Keepers | Zion NPS

“Today, these people continue to live on the lands of their ancestors and invite visitors who visit with respect.” – Visit Utah

Childrens Books about The Mighty 5 National Parks

One fun way to go on a Mighty 5 Virtual Field Trip is to read about this amazing locations in Utah. Here’s a collection of books for kids that highlight fun facts about each of Utah’s 5 National Parks. Plus a few about our National Park Service too!

• Zion (A True Book: National Parks) by Tamra B. Orr
• Zion National Park (Rookie National Parks) by Jodie Shepherd
• Bryce Canyon (A True Book: National Parks) by Jennifer Hackett

• Dreaming of Arches National Park by Grant Collier
• Coyote Steals the Blanket: A Ute Tale by Janet Stevens
• Buzzy and the Red Rock Canyons: Utah’s National Parks by Melissa C. Marsted

• Wild Spaces and Unique Places: Celebrating the Natural Wonders of Utah by Ryan Jeffery
• Utah’s Greatest Wonders: A Photographic Journey of the Five National Parks by Christopher Cogley
• U is for Utah: Beehive State Alphabet Book by Sophie Davidson

• Who Pooped in the Colorado Plateau? – Scat and Tracks for Kids by Gary D. Robson
• Scout Moore, Junior Ranger on the Colorado Plateau by Theresa Howell
• Sadie’s Search for Truth and Beauty: The Colorado Plateau and the Desert Southwest by Melissa C. Marsted

• A Is For Arches: A Utah Alphabet by Becky Hall
• Utah (A True Book: My United States) by Josh Gregory
• Bryce Canyon National Park (Rookie National Parks) by Jennifer Hackett

• Lonely Planet Kids America’s National Parks by Alexa Ward
• National Parks of the USA by Kate Siber
• National Parks Guide USA by National Kids

The Mighty 5 Road Trip (Virtual)

If you’re planning a trip out to explore these amazing National Parks you can use this guide to plan your Utah Mighty 5 Road Trip Itinerary! This video shares some tips for how to travel one park each day!

Utah 7 Day Road Trip: 5 National Parks, Monument Valley, Horseshoe Bend & More | Through My Lens

Here are some fun T-shirts for your very own Mighty 5 Soveneir once you’ve completed your Virtual Field Trip of Utah’s National Parks!

Printable Mighty 5 Virtual Field Trip Log

Looking for ways to expand the virtual tour? Try this activity…

You can keep a log of all of your adventures in Utah’s National Parks with this Virtual Field Trip Log. Which park will you explore first?

DOWNLOAD OUR VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP LOG

Utah’s National Park: The Mighty 5

WOW! Can you believe how many amazing things are located in Utah’s National Parks? You went on a virtual field trip to Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches National Parks. I hope you get a chance to travel to Utah to visit these locations in person one day soon.

Which was your favorite park to explore virtually?

If you’re looking for your next virtual field trip? You may want to explore these next…

More Virtual Field Trips for Kids